N.Y. Religious Corporations Law Section 131
The meeting for incorporation

At the meeting for incorporation, held in pursuance of such notice, the qualified voters, until otherwise decided as hereinafter provided, shall be all persons of full age, who are then members, in good and regular standing of such church, by admission into full communion or membership therewith. At such meeting the presence of a majority of such qualified voters, at least six in number, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and all matters or questions shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon. There shall be elected at said meeting from the qualified voters then present, a presiding officer, a clerk to keep the record of the proceedings of the meeting and two inspectors of election to receive the ballots cast. The presiding officer and the inspectors shall declare the result of the ballots cast on any matter, and shall be the judges of the qualifications of voters. If the meeting shall decide that such unincorporated church shall become incorporated, the meeting shall also decide upon the name of the proposed corporation, the number of the trustees thereof, which shall be three, six, nine, twelve or eighteen, and the date, not more than fifteen months thereafter, on which the first annual election of the trustees thereof shall be held, and shall decide also whether those who, from the time of the formation of such church or during the year preceding the meeting for incorporation, have statedly worshipped with such church and have regularly contributed to the financial support thereof, shall be qualified voters at such meeting for incorporation, and whether those who during the year preceding the subsequent corporate meetings of the church shall have statedly worshipped with such church and shall have regularly contributed to the financial support thereof, shall be qualified voters at such corporate meetings. Such meeting shall thereupon elect by ballot from the persons qualified to vote thereat one-third of the number of trustees so decided on, who shall hold office until the first annual election of trustees thereafter, and one-third of such number of trustees who shall hold office until the second annual election of trustees thereafter, and one-third of such number of trustees who shall hold office until the third annual election of trustees thereafter, or until the respective successors of such trustees shall be elected.

Source: Section 131 — The meeting for incorporation, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RCO/131 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Jan. 31, 2026).

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Verified:
Jan. 31, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 131. The meeting for incorporation's source at nysenate​.gov

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